Young Justice: Outsiders

Secret Conversations

Nightwing was glad the hallway was deserted save for him, Robin and the Team; he didn't have to keep his voice down.

"This is outrageous. How can they do this?"

"How can they not?" Robin countered. "It's your relationship with Batman-the same relationship that almost got you a seat at the league-that makes it impossible to grant your responsibilities. In the league's eyes, that would be the same as giving a vote to the president himself!"

Risk waved this off. He didn't have time for the Justice League's political maneuvering. "We didn't ask for this. We don't need this. So if I wasn't friends with you, I'd be a member of the League already, is that what you're saying?"

Robin looked pained. "I don't know."

Terra butted in.

"I have the power of any five members of the League. Any ten. You know it, and so do they."

Kaldur tried to counter this comment.

"Power alone is no credit to you-"

Duela Dent flung an arm back toward the spire of the Watchtower. "They're the ones who call me the Joker's Daughter! I'm the daughter of Two Face, for goodness sake! Why can't I just change my appearance to that of his?"

Lilith Clay winced as if she'd been stung. "Didn't you admire the Joker at some point? I was told you of the idolized him out of spite."

"Like that ray shield trap." Beast Boy snorted. "Should I blame this on the Joker, too?"

"However it happened at the hands of Brainiac and General Zod," Superboy said, "We are in a very . . . delicate situation."

Roy shook his head furiously.

"What situation? Who cares about us? I'm no son of Oliver Queen, I'm just a kid from an Indian reservation all grown up. Is that what it's about? Are the Green Lanterns turning everyone against us because until I came along, Robin was the youngest sidekick ever named to the League?"

Jericho rolled his eyes.

"No one cares about that-"

"Sure they don't. Let me tell you something an old Indian chief said to me no so long ago: Age is no measure of wisdom. If it were, Martian Manhunter would be twenty times as wise as you are-"

Miss Martian stood between them.

"This has nothing to do with Uncle J'onn."

"You're right, Megan," said Supergirl. "It has to do with earning the privilege of being a member of the team. Look at Cyborg and Raven. They're honorary members and they have no complaints about it."

"No one questions our accomplishments other than Batman," sympathized Prism. "It's our responsibilities that act as the problem and the Justice League members are bound to those."

"And you must understand," added Zatanna. "That these thoughts are of pride and jealousy. We should be arguing against the Light. Not each other."

"Yeah," muttered Kid Flash. "Firestorm and Professor Stein have told me that it takes two geniuses than one to conquer over a single idea."

"Which is precisely what the Light wants," interjected Batgirl mournfully. "By ridding the superheroes of Earth just to prove an ideology."

Hot Spot passed his left hand over his eyes and drew a long, heavy breath. In a much lower, calmer, quieter tone, he said, "What do we have to do?"

"It's really quite simple," Static told them. "We must open our eyes on the sight of responsibility."

Kyle, having nothing to say, but his own loyalty towards his fellow Lanterns, turned around and headed the other way.